PHIL 315 Celebrity
What is celebrity? What kind of society is the one that prioritizes fame? Are celebrities better than the rest of us? Are justice and fame compatible? What are the mechanics of social distinction? Questions like these demand our attention because their answers pertain to our cultural environment and our shared humanity. This course will attempt an interdisciplinary analysis of the concept of celebrity and its sociological, historical, aesthetic, psychological and philosophical implications. Through the lens of different readings from the various social sciences the question of what value celebrity adds or takes away from us will be put in clear perspective. Prerequisites: WRIT 313, Advanced Academic Writing; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Design, or LSCI 205, Information in the Disciplines MDST 120: Public Speaking